Author Feature: Viv Drewa

You may have seen Viv hanging around. She’s the wonderful lady who shares my posts on two blogs, her main one being http://theowlladyblog.wordpress.com/ . And yet, we know next to nothing about her. Why is she so supportive of Indie authors? Why is she so taken with birds – owls in particular? Who’s the woman behind the cool owl logo?

In an attempt to answer these questions, I’ve asked her for an interview. She’s graciously accepted, and here are the answers we’ve all been waiting for!

The Usual

Hi Viv, it’s great to have you here. Now, I know that you’re an author yourself, and yet you don’t promote your books at all on your blog, dedicating it instead to the promotion of others. So, here is your chance to talk a bit about you!

Thanks so much for having me, Nicholas!

What inspired you to write The Angler and the Owl?

My love of South America, specifically the Amazon River, and the travels of Jeremy Wade of “River Monster”.

I know that the first thing you ever wrote was a poem when you were nine. What was the first thing you wrote and was published, though?

That was the short story I wrote when I was 14. It was “From the Pages of Grandfather’s Life” which tell about my grandfather’s escape from Poland in 1913. I had re-written it in 1983 and it was first published in “The Polish American Journal” and now is available on Amazon.

Fourteen, huh? You sure did have an early start! Your Owl series has two books. Is The Owl of the Sipan Lord connected to The Angler and the Owl, or are they individual novels?

They’re two individual novels, though I’m considering a sequel to “The Angler and the Owl”.

Both take place in South America, one in Brazil and the other in Peru.

A reviewer of The Owl of the Sipan Lord said that it made her get up in the middle of the night to cover her red-eyed clock. Do you enjoy scaring people with your writing?

Yes! I myself love to be scared, which is why I write this genre.

Lol – I’m reminded of a joke by Rayne Hall! What about From the Pages of Grandfather’s Life? It describes your grandfather’s escape from Russian-ruled Poland in 1913, so I take it it’s a true story?

Yes it is. My grandfather told me this story when I was very young and again when I was 14 and wanted to write it to enter it in a competition in high school.

What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

My WIP is a paranormal murder mystery. Since I was unable to learn enough about the police procedure in South America it takes place in my home town.

This one, “The Midnight Owl” is about two detectives who get an unusual case in which dreams and a sensitive help them with the case. That’s all I’m going to say.

A mystery, then – in more ways than one! 😀 Are you an Indie author? If so, do you have any advice for other indie authors?

Yes. I was fortunate enough to have another indie author take me under her wing and help me get started. (She’s the one who had to cover her clock!)

The thing I would tell them is to read and get comfortable with a genre. Then write, write, write! You have to know your genre, or genres, before you can comfortably write about them.

And don’t give up. If your story isn’t panning out, put it aside and work on another. Maybe a short story to get your mind on something else. It works for me.

That last bit is crucial, as I’ve found out. You’re a wonderfully supportive person, helping through your reblogs promote Indie authors. How did this come about?

I was invited by Coleman Weeks to do interviews for his blog and I created my own. From there I began sharing everything I saw from fellow authors and found I really enjoyed doing this.

Plus I was able to learn so much about the writing and publishing process. I was also able to meet such wonderful people.

What about the second blog you’re active on, the MAR Social Author Business Enhancement Interview? Can you tell us a little more about that?

That’s Coleman’s. He, too, loves to help fellow authors. From the interviews I did for his blog I decided to add more to mine and share reviews, helpful hints, contests, and more.

Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?

I think I remember what spare time is. Besides reading I also love to sew, crochet and do cross stitch.

Yes, I’m vaguely familiar with the term “spare time” myself… Which are your favorite authors and what do you love about them?

Stephen King is #1! I spent many a sleepless nights after reading his novels or seeing his movies, and I loved it!

Others, Dean Koonts, and Michael Weems.

You do like your mysteries! What genres do you read mostly and what are you reading now?

I prefer reading anything paranormal. Ghosts really intrigue me. But I do read other genres. Earlier this year a friend told me about a fantastic author who writes historical fiction, a genre I wasn’t interested in. I read “Josiah Stubb: The Siege of Louisburg” and fell in love with C.W. Lovatt’s work.

Are there any sites or writing tools that you find useful and wish to recommend?

Chris McMullen has written a lot on the ins and outs or writing and publishing. I reblog his blog all the time. The information is fantastic! I highly recommend it to anyone who wants more info on our profession.

You’re right, his blog is a treasure trove of excellent information! What are the things in your life that you’re most grateful for?

The unusual

If you had to describe a theme or thread running through your life, what would it be? What’s your life theme?

Happiness.

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus. Where are you from?

Saturn.

Lovely rings. Is it true you’ve been abducted by aliens?

No, one look at me and they left.

Lol – okay, their loss is our gain. Name your claim to fame.

Not interested in fame.

Fair enough. What is the weirdest thing that’s happened to you?

Just one? The weirdest was when my husband and I were working second shift. My dad called me around 7 AM to tell me my uncle passed away and told me where the services were going to be. As my Uncle Joe was diagnosed with cancer about five months earlier, I was not surprised by this.

When we got to the funeral parlor my Uncle Joe was standing outside and said Hi to us. My dad came up to us and I asked, “Dad, who’s in there?”

“Your Uncle Eddie. He died during surgery two days ago.”

That sent shivers up my back and all my hair stood on end. I thought I was looking at a ghost.

Lol – that would have freaked anyone out! Owls is, obviously, your totem animal. May I ask how that came about?

I don’t even know. I’ve loved them since I can remember. My favorite is the barn owl because their face is almost heart shaped.

If you had to live over again what would you change in your life?

Nothing. Maybe have more money.

Yeah, I could do with a bit of that myself… 😀 Where in the universe would you live if you could travel anywhere?

Martin and Clare Montgomery worked as an archaeological team until Martin’s accidental death at a dig they were working on in Peru. Clare swore she’d never go back, but after having a dream about the dig that didn’t add up to the finds of the area, and the help of the Peruvian Pygmy Owl and a blue-eyed spirit, she did.

The Angler and the Owl

For 25 years France Hunter has been studying owls, and has discovered five new species around the world. Her work has kept her busy and she never had time for a relationship. She travels with Jason “Doc” Bradley, a former paramedic, and his cousins Tony and Andy Bradley. Now, on her last outing she is joined by a magazine writer, Cathy Birch, and a world famous angler, John Sinclair, who has also dedicated his life to his field.

As the small caravan travels to the Amazon river France falls and severely injures her left arm. Against Doc’s recommendation to turn back, she pushes on. This is her last trip and she wants to go to the place where she found her first new owl. While fishing a blue-ringed owl lands on John’s canoe and looks down the river to where France’s group is, and then looks back at him. This alerts John. He gets the satellite phone and tries to reach her to no avail. He decides the fishing can wait and, with Mark in another canoe, begin the journey back to France.

At France’s camp two jaguars attack one of the boatmen severing his left leg. The other two boatmen, they all have rifles, shoot at the jaguars killing one. The other escapes with the boatman’s leg. Doc and the others wake to the noise and he and Tony go to where the boatmen are camping. In the ruckus the canoes become untied and go eastward down the shore and the sat phone is destroyed. Now they have no way to get help and will have to wait for John’s team to come back, which could take three or four more days. Will help get there in enough time?

Ashtrays to Jawbreakers

No need to check your eyes or clean your glasses – the pictures on the front were made that way for a reason. A writer’s world is that blurred area between reality and fantasy. Most writers are never known for their works other than by their tight knit rings of friends or family. Sometimes a writer is never known because he or she is intimidated at the thought of rejection and scrutiny from their peers. A writer’s life is never cut and dried. There are no vacations, lots of sleepless nights, distractions of every type and structure. All can be blamed on the characters in our heads fighting to get out.

Most people only have that one voice they pay attention to, but for a writer there may ten or twenty talking at one time. Writing is sometimes the only way to ease the peace. These eleven authors have put a lot into their stories. A lot of thought to get the right word in the right place to provide an accurate picture in your mind of what he or she wants you to see. There are only 26 letters in the alphabet, but put together right the possibilities are endless. We hope you enjoy the stories provided and they help you escape for a minute or two from your reality.

Ashtrays to Jawbreakers Vol. 2

From the minds of some of the finest indie authors comes Volume 2 of Ashtrays to Jawbreakers. Blending fiction with poetry, light with dark and fact with fiction, this is a collection that travels the winding roads of literature. The stories and poems contained within offer a glance into different worlds – some familiar, some less so; but all of them with a twist.

A writer’s world is that blurred area between reality and fantasy. Most writers are never known for their works other than by their tight knit rings of friends or family. Sometimes a writer is never known because he or she is intimidated at the thought of rejection and scrutiny from their peers. A writer’s life is never cut and dried. There are no vacations, lots of sleepless nights, distractions of every type and structure. All can be blamed on the characters in our heads fighting to get out.

Most people only have that one voice they pay attention to, but for a writer there may ten or twenty talking at one time. Writing is sometimes the only way to ease the peace. These eleven authors have put a lot into their stories. A lot of thought to get the right word in the right place to provide an accurate picture in your mind of what he or she wants you to see. There are only 26 letters in the alphabet, but put together right the possibilities are endless. We hope you enjoy the stories provided and they help you escape for a minute or two from your reality.

How wonderful to know more about you, Viv! And how sweet you look in the photo. I am indebted to you for reblogging all my posts, you’re amazing honey! Wish you success with your writing 🙂 Great interview, you guys!

Thanks for doing this excellent interview. I’ve seen the Owl Lady on a number of blogs I follow, and now I know what she is all about! And it’s always nice to meet another person in the “I think I remember what spare time is” club LOL. Viv, I am curious if you have ever read the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series by Kathryn Lasky – it’s a YA series that has inspired my son to learn more about owls. 🙂

Very thrilling and inspiring interview. I wonder why more people are not reading it. I got a number of lessons from it The great author Viv Drewa was helped by someone to where she is. We need help to get to our full potential. We do not have a shortage of talent we have a shortage of people to help the great talents out there to bloom.

She advises that anyone who wants to make it should keep writing and never give up. I do buy her advise and congratulate her on her achievements. What is also striking is her willingness to help others. While some successful people do not care about the less successful there are others who care. Bravo to her!

As I read the interview, what came to my mine was ‘Operation One Billion people for an Excellent world.’ Did you ever hear about that? I think the world is full of excellent people who will do well to come together to synergize for an excellent world for everybody to live in.Lastly, I want to congratulate you Nicholas on a job well done in conducting this interview.